Beech 58 accident near Walnut Cove, North Carolina, January 17, 1989
On January 17, 1989 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Beech 58, registered N166LC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Walnut Cove, North Carolina (Meadow Brook airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MADE THE LANDING APPROACH TOO HIGH AND TOO FAST FOR THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY, AND FAILED TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE FENCE WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 1989 · about 3:30 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Walnut Cove, North Carolina · Meadow Brook · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 58 · all 58s on the register
- Registration
- N166LC · no longer on the register · serial TH-990
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A THREE HOUR FLIGHT, THE PILOT MADE AN APPROACH AND LANDING AT THE AIRPORT. HE STATED THAT HE WAS TOO HIGH AND FAST FOR LANDING. HE TOUCHED DOWN IN THE 'LATTER PART OF THE RUNWAY.' AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED & THE TIRES FAILED. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND THROUGH A FENCE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP IN THE ADJOINING PASTURE FIELD WITH THE RIGHT MAIN AND NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PILOT STATED THAT THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY '. . . COMMENCING A GO-AROUND AFTER TOUCH DOWN OF THE AIRCRAFT AND SEEING INSUFFICIENT RUNWAY LENGTH TO STOP AND EXECUTING PROPER APPROACH.'
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 431 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 286 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1989; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-CB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PIE St Petersburg FL at 12:30 pm
- Destination: NC28
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 16, 2,830 ft by 32 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N166LC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N166LC: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Beechcraft 58 Baron 1,295 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental IO-520-CB 3 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Meadstown Airstrip Airport · nearest airport
- St. Pete-Clearwater International · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in North Carolina 1,762 since 1982 · 304 in the last ten years
- North Carolina 7,126 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N166LC 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL89LA077.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.